Our photo scanning service is an easy way to preserve your precious memories
We digitise photos, slides and negatives. Simply order online and send your photos to us by post.
Why choose CEWE to digitise your old photos?
We love photos. As Europe’s leading photo service, you can rest assured we'll handle your photos with the utmost care.
How does the scanning service work?
Get your digital files quickly and easily in just 5 simple steps.
Prices
We’ll count your items sent to us in your Secure Shipping Box and contact you if you’ve got more items than you’ve ordered. If you do, we will send you an invoice you can pay either online via a payment link, or by calling our customer service team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which products can be scanned and digitised by post?
When ordering by post, you have the option of digitising either 35mm slides (24x36mm, framed), negative strips (35mm, 110 or 126 - at least 3 images per strip) or printed photos (from 2” x 3” to A4).
How do I send you my photos, slides or negatives?
After placing an order, you will receive an email confirmation. Suitable packaging for your order will arrive within 3-4 working days.
The order confirmation email contains a link to the Royal Mail portal to generate a shipping label. Please print out your order confirmation e-mail and include it in your package. If you are unable to print out the order confirmation e-mail, we would ask you to write your order number by hand and enclose this instead.
Insert the printed email into the package, seal it, attach the label, and either drop it off at a local point or arrange for home collection.
What about my originals?
After digitisation, your originals will be carefully packed up by us and sent back to you with tracking.
How do I access my digitised photos, and what format are they in?
You will receive a delivery note with the return of your original media. This note includes a secure download link, and step-by-step instructions for viewing and downloading your photos. All digitised photos are provided in JPEG format.
How quickly does the download link expire?
The link will expire after 6 weeks after being initially created on our end. Once you've used your secure ID, you will see a message with details of when this final date is. If you choose to upload to CEWE myPhotos at this stage, your photos will be securely stored in your account.
How long will my order take to be processed?
Processing usually takes place within approximately 10 working days from the date we receive your shipment in our laboratory.
How good is the scan quality?
We offer two quality levels for photo scanning: Standard and High Resolution. Both options produce high‑quality scans, but High Resolution scans are created at 1200 dpi for greater detail. Please note that slides and negatives are always scanned at High Resolution to ensure the best possible results.
What if I have too many items to count?
You do not need to count all your items, as our team will be doing that when we receive them at our lab. A rough estimate is sufficient to place an order. If you’ve sent us more than your original order, we will be in touch with an invoice for the extras.
How can I be sure my photos are secure and won't get lost?
We know how priceless your unique memories are, and we treat them with utmost respect. You will receive a fully trackable shipping label to use when sending your images to our laboratory. After we receive your shipment, you'll get a confirmation e-mail from us including a photo of your package, so you know we've received it safely. If any questions arise during the processing of your order, our customer service team will contact you by email or telephone. After successful digitisation, you will receive another confirmation from us, letting you know your order is on its way - this also includes full tracking.
Do I pay before or after you receive my items?
Payment is required at the time of placing your order online. We accept card payments, PayPal, Klarna, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. If any additional costs apply for extra items, we will contact you.
How does collection from home work?
At checkout, you can choose to drop your package off at a local drop-off point or have it collected from your home. If you select home collection, a courier will collect your package on the next working day.
What happens if I miss my chosen collection date?
Don't worry if you aren't in and miss the collection date. You can either rebook collection or use the same label to drop your package off at a local drop‑off point.
Which storage medium can I choose?
You’ll receive a secure link to download your digitised photos. You can then choose to upload them to CEWE myPhotos , which includes 15GB of free storage. Additionally, you can select a USB stick as an extra storage medium - do this in the basket when you place your order. The USB stick is not copy-protected and can be used like a standard USB stick. You own the copyright to your digital images.





